"I wish, Jacob," said Humphrey, "that I was able to build a cart, for
it would be very useful, and White Billy would then have something to
do; but I can't make the wheels, and there is no harness."
"That's not a bad idea of yours, Humphrey," replied Jacob; "we will
think about it. If you can't build a cart, perhaps I can buy one. It
would be useful if it were only to take the dung out of the yard on
the potato-ground, for I have hitherto carried it out in baskets, and
it's hard work."
"Yes, and we might saw the wood into billets, and carry it home in the
cart, instead of dragging it in this way; my shoulder is quite sore
with the rope, it cuts me so."
"Well, when the weather breaks up, I will see what I can do, Humphrey;
but just now the roads are so blocked up, that I do not think we could
get a cart from Lymington to the cottage, although we can a horse,
perhaps."
But if they remained in-doors during the inclement weather, they were
not idle. Jacob took this opportunity to instruct the children in
every thing. Alice learned how to wash and how to cook. It is true,
that sometimes she scalded herself a little, sometimes burned her
fingers; and other accidents did occur, from the articles employed
being too heavy for them to lift by themselves; but practice and
dexterity compensated for want of strength, and fewer accidents
happened every day.
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